9.5 The Question Word 點解 dim2 gaai2 (‘why’)

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The question word 點解 dim2 gaai2 is similar to why in English. We can use 點解 dim2 gaai2 to form a question that elicits the reason or purpose of an action as the answer. We can put 點解 dim2 gaai2 before the verb phrase of the action we want to ask about, or at the beginning of the question.

A:你點解學廣東話嘅？
nei5 dim2 gaai2 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 ge2?
點解你學廣東話嘅？
dim2 gaai2 nei5 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 ge2?
Why do you learn Cantonese?
B:因為我遲啲會去香港讀書。
jan1 wai6 ngo5 ci4 di1 wui5 heoi3 hoeng1 gong2 duk6 syu1.
Because I will go to Hong Kong to study later.
In the first version of the question, the question word 點解 dim2 gaai2 is put before the verb phrase 學廣東話 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 (‘to learn Cantonese’). In the second version of the question, the question word 點解 dim2 gaai2 is put at the beginning of the question.

We often use the sentence particle 嘅 ge2 with 點解 dim2 gaai2 if we want to ask the question neutrally. If we use the sentence particle 呀 aa3 or 㗎 gaa3 instead, it may add a sense of surprise, puzzlement or complaint to the question.

你點解識廣東話嘅？
nei5 dim2 gaai2 sik1 gwong2 dung1 waa2 ge2?
Why do you know Cantonese?
你點解識廣東話㗎？
nei5 dim2 gaai2 sik1 gwong2 dung1 waa2 gaa3?
Why do you know Cantonese? [Wow! Why do you know Cantonese?]
The question with 㗎 gaa3 shows a sense of surprise.

你點解學廣東話嘅？
nei5 dim2 gaai2 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 ge2?
Why do you learn Cantonese?
你點解學廣東話㗎？
nei5 dim2 gaai2 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 gaa3?
Why do you learn Cantonese? [Why would you even learn Cantonese?]
The question with 㗎 gaa3 shows a sense of puzzlement.